Charlene Polk

Cambridge, MD — What a difference a year can make.

Last year, Majestic Jackpot went offstride in three of his four pari-mutuel starts and didn’t earn a dollar. The new year brought some new luck for the son of Real Artist, however, as from seven starts in 2009 he’s already racked up two seconds and four wins, the most recent in an impressive 1:49.4 at the Meadowlands.

“He just had a lot of unfortunate luck as a 2-year-old,” trainer Brian Burton said. “He should have had $25,000 or $30,000 in stakes earnings.”

It’s hardly surprising that Majestic Jackpot would show such speed; his dam, Caesars Jackpot, was once the fastest pacing mare in the sport when she time-trialed in 1:49.2 in 1991.

Despite his less-than-perfect 2-year-old stats, Burton and his father Marty always had high hopes for the gelding, who the elder Burton bought for $17,000 at the August 2007 PA Preferred sale.

“When I looked at the book he’s the one that stuck in my mind,” Brian Burton said. “I thought something must be wrong with him. He did look young and growthy, but we liked the way he looked.”

Majestic Jackpot started out well, with a second place finish in a June qualifier at Rosecroft Raceway when he was timed in 1:59.3 with a last quarter in :27.4. In his first pari-mutuel start a few weeks later though, he made a break when driver Aaron Merriman went to move him.

“When he comes out of a hole he kind of explodes,” Burton said, “and he ran over a wheel and made a break.”

The colt redeemed himself with a 24-3/4 length win in a qualifier at Harrah’s Chester 12 days later, however, stopping the clock in 1:55.3 with Burton in the bike.

Things went downhill from there though, as Majestic Jackpot again came out of a hole too quickly and went offstride in his next start and was run into and made a break the start after that. Although he stayed flat in his last race of the 2008 season, his lackluster seventh place finish led Burton to turn him out.

“He was getting a little sore,” Burton said.

Apparently a little vacation was all the gelding needed, as he started off 2009 well with flat lines in three qualifiers at Dover Downs. The Maryland-owned colt was not accepted at the Delaware track though, and was sent to the Meadows for a lack of anywhere else to race. He wasted no time in showing that he was ready though, winning both starts there with mile times of 1:54.3 and 1:54.2.

The Burtons were able to race him in a late closer at Pocono Downs in April, and that’s when the Pennsylvania-bred began to show some speed, finishing second in the first leg with a time of 1:52.1 and following that with a win in 1:52.2 the second week. The gelding paced in 1:51.1 to finish second to Dan Carter in the $45,000 final.

“He raced super in the final,” Burton said. “I couldn’t have been any more pleased with him.”

Burton said that while Majestic Jackpot was doing better on the track than he had in the past, few changes had been made. Aside from a little vet work and lots of turnout time with pasturemate Izzy Real, the gelding required little, just wearing a brush shadow roll and two headpoles on the track.

“He’s a very easy-going horse,” Burton said. “He’s my stepdaughter’s favorite. She used to be scared to death of horses but she’s not anymore.”

After his success at Pocono Downs, the Burtons decided to try Majestic Jackpot at the Meadowlands. That decision left them second-guessing themselves after his first start when he finished a disappointing sixth at the big track, but they didn’t regret giving him a second chance when he pulled a mild upset last Friday with his 1:49.4 win.

“Ron (Pierce) said we had some left, but whether that was a fifth of a second or a second more I don’t know,” Burton said. “It was an eye-popping effort though.”

While his connections would love to see a repeat in Saturday night’s (May 30) fourth race at the Big M, Majestic Jackpot has already proven himself and become the king of the Burton stable, which also includes locally-known H Hall p,3,1:51.3 ($121,293).

“I think Majestic has taken over his throne,” Burton joked, “but whether he can do it week in week out like H Hall we have yet to see.”